The Best of Thailand: Top 10 places to visit

One of Asia’s most popular tourist destinations, Thailand’s reputation for hedonism attracts thousands of backpackers and its natural beauty also attracts an increasing amount of holiday-makers. Thailand is a mystical country which leaves a lifelong impression on anyone who visits. It offers a rich history, smiling locals, some interesting quirks and of course an unforgettable experience! To help you see the best of the country, here is my choice for ten of the best places to visit in Thailand…

Bangkok

Bangkok is a restless and chaotic metropolis and an essential part of a trip to Thailand. Although not everyone’s cup of tea, the culture-shock inducing capital has some incredible places of interest that you would be foolish to miss. Highlights include the impossibly bejewelled Grand Palace, Wat Arun (one of the oldest and best known landmarks in Bangkok) and Wat Po which is home to a giant reclining Buddha. Fun-seekers head for the notorious backpacker’s haven the Khao San road, the bazaars and alleyways of Chinatown and the infamous Patpong Night Market (located in the city’s red light district).

The Floating Market

The Floating Market (made famous by the James Bond classic “The Man with the Golden Gun”) is located on the Damnoen Saduak Canal in the region of Bangkok. Although now a major tourist attraction, the market is a photogenic place where visitors can get an idea of what trading was like in Thailand before the modernisation of the city. It’s also a lot of fun. Buying something here means hailing down a narrow long boat piled high with produce – quite an experience in itself! The region is also filled with lush vineyards, orchards and thriving local businesses which are great to view by canal boat on your journey there.

Chiang Mai

The spiritual city of Chiang Mai is a much quieter than Bangkok but still an essential visit if you want to see the best of Thailand. Dotted with temples, craft shops, restaurants and more than a handful of excellent Thai massage and cooking schools, the city has a somehow relaxed and tranquil atmosphere. Many travellers often mention Chiang Mai as their favourite Thai city and once visited it’s easy to see why. It’s located high in the north mountainous region of Thailand which makes it a great base for mountain trekking (organised treks can be arranged very easily here with almost every other shop offering them). Although the treks from Chiang Mai are interesting, they are often a well-worn path and many in-the-know backpackers now head for nearby Pai instead. Pai is a chilled-out small town located near the Myanmar border which has become popular with travellers, artists and musicians. Head there for less touristy treks and more ‘rustic’ visits to hill-tribes.

San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

San Kamphaeng is a district located 36km from the northern city Chiang Mai. The area is home to the popular and reasonably priced hot springs which are set in a tranquil, 40 acre landscaped park. They are famous for their restorative properties and people come from miles to cure aches and pains and to take a break from the chaos of Bangkok. The deep-source springs reach over 100 degrees centigrade and are naturally high in sulfur. Visit to bath in the mineral-rich waters, camp in the surrounding parkland or to boil some eggs in the hot steaming pools!

The East Coast Islands

Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are islands located on the east side of Thailand which are popular with both vacationers and backpackers. Both islands are known for their palm tree lined white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters and laid-back attitudes. Koh Samui is more developed and geared towards holiday-makers and Koh Phangan with its cool cafes and world-famous full moon parties has more of a bohemian feel. Nearby, the rugged island of Koh Tao and the idyllic Koh Nang Yuan (pictured above) are only an inexpensive boat ride away. These two islands are much less touristy due to their more isolated locations and are perfect for those looking for peace and world-class diving.

Mae Hong Son

Mae Hong Son is the capital of Thailand’s most northwestern province and its close proximity to the Burmese border gives it a very different feel to the rest of the country. Very quiet and isolated, this mountainous city is filled with Burmese style temples and shrouded in an atmospheric mist. Visitors come here for the unique natural scenery, mountain trekking, craft markets and to see the local hill tribe communities – one of which is the famous Karen long neck tribe. The Thanon Thongchai range between Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand is popular for trekking and highlights include the beautiful six-tiered Pha Sua waterfall.

Ayutthaya

Only an hours train journey from Bangkok, the ancient city of Ayutthaya should be on every visitor’s itinerary. Once a sacred, important Siamese kingdom it existed from 1351 right up until 1767 when it was raided and sacked by an invading army. Today the ancient city lies in crumbling ruins but the remains of the extraordinary and once towering temples are classed as a UNESCO world heritage site and are hauntingly beautiful. To make the most of this site, allow a full day to explore and of course, don’t forget to pack your camera.

Railay and the Krabi Province

Railay and the surrounding coast of the Krabi province (located in the South of Thailand) is a tropical paradise characterised by towering limestone cliffs, turquoise water, and powder white sand. From this area, it’s also easy to take a trip to nearby Phang Nga to see the famous ‘James Bond Rock‘. Railay is a beautiful secluded beach – accessible only by boat – which attracts a mixture of in-the-know backpackers, well-heeled tourists, and enthusiastic rock climbers. Surrounded by dense vegetation and mountains, the area is also perfect for trekking. There are many beautiful beaches in Thailand but Railay is unique because it’s completely cut off from the daily grind – here visitors kick back and mostly stay a lot longer than originally planned.

Koh Phi Phi

The tiny but idyllic west coast island of Koh Phi Phi is seen by many as the ultimate island paradise. Even though the island has now fully recovered from the devastating 2009 tsunami, it has sadly suffered from rapid tourist growth (especially since the release of “The Beach” starring Leo Dicaprio). In spite of this, Koh Phi Phi still manages to retain a relaxed vibe which seems to keep both the backpackers and the vacationers happy. Highlights include climbing a steep viewpoint to watch the sunset and hiring a long tail boat to snorkel in the beautiful surrounding waters.

Hin Daeng

Adventurous travellers should head for Hin Daeng, located in the Andaman Sea. Literally meaning the Red Rock, this is one of the top diving spots in Thailand – if not the world. Swim amongst underwater pinnacles, swaying carpets of anemone and red soft coral. It’s also teeming with marine-life including huge shoals of fish, round batfish, manta ray, barracuda and if you’re lucky the odd whale shark or two.

It’s almost impossible to squeeze the best of Thailand into a Top 10 list so we also need to give a special mention to the gorgeous beaches of Ko Kood, the UNESCO World Heritage listed Khao Yai National Park, the remote city of Chiang Rai, the luxurious island resort of Phuket, the cultural city of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Kanchanaburi (where the Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed) and the blissful Koh Lanta.

Animal lovers should also include a visit to the beautiful Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary located in North Thailand. Started by Katherine Connor, a former UK traveller (and now National Geographic’s traveller of the year) they provide sanctuary to formally abused elephants and welcome both guests and volunteers. Visit to see some of the happiest elephants in Thailand, we promise you won’t regret it!

Born in England, with a few family roots from Bavaria, and a heart in Scandinavia I've always been a bit of a restless soul. My first true adventure began as a six month voyage around South East Asia as a fresh faced backpacker and ever since I've lived a semi nomadic existence, clocking up over 40 countries on trips and living in Dublin, South East Asia and Australia. I'm a lover of US Road Trips, deserted beaches bathed in warm glow of a sunset, Cuban mojitos, easy-on-the-eye travel destinations far away from the tourist crowds and all things Scandinavian - from cloudberry liquors to Scandi Noirs. When not wandering the world, you'll find me walking my rescue dog in leafy South West London, strolling around the Brighton Laines on random day trips, hunting for photogenic landscapes or daydreaming about returning to my all time favourite places in the world; Havana, Copenhagen, Italy, Thailand and the frozen landscapes of a wintry Iceland. Follow Becky on Twitter and Google+.

Great list and beautiful images! Thailand is definitely one of my favourite countries, I’ve been there a couple of times already and still want more:) I must admit though that I was quite disappointed with Koh Phi Phi – beautiful as it is, it’s been spoiled by tourism. If you want to see a true tropical paradise you should go to Koh Kradan, it’s my favourite island and it’s just stunning!

Yok

Pai was our favorite in the whole country! I loved your list but Pai should take the place of Koh Phi Phi in my opinion. No matter how beautiful it is tourist dumping ground comes to mind whenever I go there!

Warner

Located on the banks of the Mae Ping River in Thailand, the Anantara Chiang mai resort & spa is one of the most natural and refreshing resorts in the country. Definitely recommended to anyone visiting the area.

Boo

Gevin Smith

Nice Article. Last month i was in Bangkok with my family. Bangkok is really very nice city to visit. I saw there Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit), Chao Phraya River, The Golden Mount (Wat Saket), Wat Ratchanatdaram Woravihara (Loha Prasat), Lumpini Park and almost all places of this city. I will go there again this year. It was my best enjoyable and memorable trip.

mamtabalani

Indra

I am visiting thailand in Feb 2013. It would be a Honeymoon travel and we will be staying for 5-6 days. Can someone suggest me which places I should visit. I would prefer some calm and beautiful beaches(like pic 5) rather than city life.

pattaya also a good place to visit from notorious night entertainment to beautiful garden by day time..koh samui island beach koh hong and phi phi island is one of the best recommended to visit diving and snorkeling are once in a life time experience….

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cool

Great list! Chiang Mai sounds like one of the perfect places to go since it’s a calm place and there is a lot for visitors to see. I will definitely consider these places when planning a trip to Thailand.

Graham

thanks for the selected places to visit in Thailand, i am currently in the process of collecting information for my upcoming trip to Thailand. The article helped me to sellect the some places of interest in Thailand for my trip. Cheers.

Try Kanchanaburi as an alternative, you could spend between 2 – 3 days there. See the Death Railway, bridge over the river kwai, war museum and the war cemetery, it’s a very touching place. The war cemetery is kept in absolutely immaculate condition, it really does bring a tear to your eyes.

Stop

I’ve visited Bangkok last September and really I didn’t enjoy it ‘coz I never see the places I love to see esp. the floating market. I hope next month I can visit the top spots there. Now, I need to make a list for our trip..

Thanks for the article. Where to Travel? Here you can find some good recommendations about the world’s best places to visit. Our list includes the most popular places in the world. Whatever your tastes, the world is filled with unmissable things to see and do. Find a place to visit, and take off on your next adventure! Let’s see where you would travel. Best Places To Visit In The WorldBest Places to Travel in Australia

Graham

Hi Kewell we don’t have a specific northern Thailand list i’m afraid. Although if you are visiting the North then of course visit Chiang Mai and also add in Pai, the Hot Springs, Mae Hong Son and Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries. Trekking is very popular in the North too and this can be arranged easily from the main cities and towns.

deepti ahuja

Well…i quite liked this article. First of all this is a very beautiful place to see, i can definitely say you would enjoy to the fullest. Well,It requires a lot of planning to keep your tour memorable. In addition to this hotel bookings, sight seeings, other related factors also need importance. for this matter you need to contact a reliable travel portal. Here, the best option for you is to consult some travel agents or you can log on to sites like Yatra.com, they will provide you with all the details regarding the flight timings, fares and schedule. I found that now a days they are providing heavy discount and other exciting offers on international tickets.

Namkhang D

since i was planning my first visit to BKK. so i wasnt really sure where all to visit. and since its will be a short trip, this really halped me to finalize on the places i can visit. Thanks for sharing once again.

Graham

Nice Pictures Collection. Thanks for sharing this nice information. Thailand is a cool place in every season. The island has pleasantly natural beauty and ideal climate. I like this place and definitely we will be visit there again soon.

Thailand has huge variety picturesque sites. Ko Samui is one of my favorite places in Thailand. It is a cool place in every season. The island has pleasantly natural beauty and ideal climate. We really love this place and definitely we will be visit there again soon.

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As for #6, YES – do go to Mae Hong Son, its a great place, but visiting the Karen Longneck Tribe was one of the biggest ripoffs I have found in Thailand. You pay a large entrance fee to basically walk through their village which is one big market full of hassle. The tribe doesn’t even get the entrance fee, they are being exploited.

Becky

Hey Greg thanks for the comment. I felt exactly the same when I went there ten years ago, I thought it had the feel of a human zoo and I was embarrassed to be there. I did love Mae Hong Son though I thought it was a really interesting place.

I felt the same way when I went to Koh Phi Phi. So many tourists, all bundled up and shipped over there for an hour to look around and take pictures, buy lots of touristy crap, then be shipped back to the larger islands.

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Hi I'm Becky, a semi nomadic traveller but otherwise the UK-based owner of Global Grasshopper – an award winning blog and resource for independent travellers. I'm also joined by a team of self-confessed travel snobs and together we're embarking on a journey to unravel the secrets of the world's most unique, under-the-radar and beautiful places. Whether you are a backpacker, a flashpacker or just prefer to holiday away from the crowds, subscribe to our email post alert for uplifting photography, guides & stories from our many collective journeys and inspiration for the road less travelled.